Thursday , December 7 , 1893 . 781 
These donations have been invested in the names of the three 
Trustees of the Harewood House Debenture Stock, and will, with 
the interest thereon, form the nucleus of a sinking fund for the 
eventual redemption of the Stock. 
7 . As already reported, it was originally proposed that on the 
site purchased by the Society a wholly new building should be 
erected, at a further cost estimated at 25,000^., in which building 
there would have been some spare rooms capable of being sub-let. 
On consideration, however, of the proposed schemes for new buildings, 
difficulties presented themselves which were not, of course, insur- 
mountable, but which would have greatly delayed the completion of 
the purchase, and would have involved a somewhat considerable 
financial outlay and responsibility for the Society. The existing 
Harewood House is an exceedingly well-built and solid structure of 
the Adam period, and is not difficult of adaptation for the Society’s 
requirements. The fabric itself was not considered as comprised in 
the original arrangement with the Duke of Westminster and Sir 
Walter Gilbey ; but, on learning that the House Committee were 
considering the question of adaptation as against rebuilding, the 
Duke and Sir Walter not only expressed their willingness to regard 
the house itself as included in the purchass, but also to make them- 
selves responsible for the considerable expense of adapting it so as 
to meet the Society’s requirements. Under these circumstances, 
the House Committee had no hesitation in recommending that the 
munificent proposals of the Duke of Westminster and Sir Walter 
Gilbey be accepted, and that the cordial thanks of the Society be 
tendered to them for their public-spirited action in the matter. By 
its acceptance of this generous offer, the Society has not only been 
placed in possession of a very commodious and handsome freehold 
house, where it can make its permanent home, but it has acquired 
the important power — should in future this pi-ove to be needed — of 
extending its accommodation by the building of additional floors 
without disarranging the existing rooms. The alterations are now 
in progress, and Harewood House will shortly be ready for occupa- 
tion. By the transference of the Society’s administrative offices to 
Harewood House, its present premises at 1 2 Hanover Square will be 
available for the accommodation of such other Societies as may desire 
to obtain offices adjacent to those of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
8. It is gratifying to report that the Society’s Fifty-fourth Annual 
Country Meeting, held at Chester last J une, proved a great success, 
towards which the willing co-opera tion of the Local Committee very 
materially contributed. In a district like Cheshire it was natural 
that special prominence should be given to the exhibition of dairy 
products ; and, indeed, the display of Cheshire Cheese was the great 
feature of the Show. The attendance of visitors was all that could 
be desired on the first four days, but a heavy and persistent down- 
pour of rain — so welcome in other respects in the midst of the pro- 
longed drought— had a deterrent effect upon the numbers attending 
